Melling Avenue Aintree Liverpool. Scene on Wednesday morning after Police found a man lying in the street in the early hours with fatal injuries. Area sealed off and many vehicles covered for forensic examination.

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A murder investigation was launched after a man was found lying in a Merseyside road after a suspected stabbing.

The 33 year-old victim was discovered with what police described as “serious” injuries in Melling Avenue, Aintree.

Officers were called to the scene at 11.53pm on Tuesday following reports of a man lying unconscious in the road. Police could not provide details of his injuries.

Paramedics treated him at the scene before taking him to Fazakerley hospital, where he was pronounced dead by doctors. His next of kin have been informed.

Detectives believe the victim, who was local to the area, may have been involved in an argument with three other men on Melling Avenue, which culminated in him being assaulted in the road.

A police cordon surrounded a number of houses at Melling Avenue’s junction with Greenwich Road, and three vehicles along with the front doors of two houses were covered in plastic sheeting.

Two other cordons were set up, one at the other end of Melling Avenue, at its junction with Warbreck Moor, and the other at the junction of Greenwich Road with Wyresdale Road, by Kirkdale cemetery.

A Home Office post mortem examination was due to be carried out today to establish the cause of the man’s death.

People who lived nearby spoke of their shock at the events unfolding in the quiet residential area.

Derek Owens, 57, said: “I woke up this morning to see loads of cop cars. It’s terrible seeing something like that on your doorstep.

“I think it’s disgusting what’s happened. I’ve lived in this area for 25 years and it’s the first time there’s been a major incident like this. It’s quite peaceful normally.”

John Broomhead, 58, who lives in Melling Avenue, said he arrived home at 12.30am to find the road cordoned off by police.

He said: “I was told there’d been a serious incident in the street and it was a crime scene. I’ve lived here all my life and I’ve never witnessed anything like this before.

“The police are not allowing us to move our cars so I have had to arrange to get picked up to go to work.”

Aman Singh, who works at a nearby newsagent’s, said the incident had been the main talking point in the shop.

He added: “A couple of ladies were quite shaken up by it this morning - scared and a bit rattled.

“People coming into the shop were sharing what they knew with each other. Some said they’d actually witnessed it.”

Merseyside police said an extensive investigation had been launched to establish the full circumstances of what happened and urged the public to come forward with any information.

DCI Andy O’Connor said: “This is a deeply shocking thing to happen in this community and I would like to reassure every resident that we are doing everything in our power to catch the person or persons responsible.

"A man has lost his life in violent circumstances and it is imperative that the offenders are brought to justice.

“The investigation is still in its infancy and at this stage we do not have a motive for the attack, but we do believe that the victim was targeted and could possibly have known the offenders.

“Extensive inquiries are being carried out to piece together what has led to this man’s death and I am calling on the local community to help.

“If you saw or heard anything in Melling Avenue shortly before midnight that could help our investigation, please come forward. Your information, however small or insignificant it may seem, could be vital for us and could lead to the apprehension of those responsible.”

Anyone who saw the incident, or who has any information which could help with their inquiries is asked to contact detectives at St Anne Street station on 0151 777 4064, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.